Snow Clearing

The City of St. John's receives over 360 centimetres of snow during an average winter. We budget over $33 million for snow clearing and ice control operations. There are over 1,400 lane kilometres of road that require clearing during a snow event and 193 kilometres of sidewalks.

Click the icons below to learn more about snow clearing in our city, from service levels to snow removal. Scroll down for more information about our operations and for a list of frequently asked questions.

Service Priority

Learn more about our service levels and priorities for streets and sidewalks.

Where's my plow?

To find out if a plow is in your neighbourhood, use our Plow Tracker. Plows may not appear on the Plow Tracker for several reasons, but if snow is falling, crews are actively clearing streets and sidewalks. If you see a plow near your property on the system, but it did not come up your street, it may be because of service level priority.

Downtown Snow Removal

Downtown’s narrow streets, steep hills and dense development make snow removal more complex. Learn more about overnight parking restrictions required to allow crews to clear roads safely and efficiently.

Winter Parking

In winter, our parking restrictions are in place to make sure plows can clear our streets safely and effectively. Streets may be scheduled for snow removal throughout the season.

Weather Hub

Check the Weather Hub for all weather-related updates, such as snow clearing updates, closures and disruptions and more.

Report an Issue

If you have an inquiry, contact Access St. John’s. Reports of hazards should be reported immediately. We ask that residents wait until after the service delivery timelines to submit general inquiries.

Winter Operations

We have three methods for clearing snow on City streets and sidewalks:

Anti-icing

In preparation for a freezing or snowfall event, we apply road salt or liquid brine on designated roads and sidewalks. This helps to prevent standing water from freezing, delays snow accumulation and prevents snow and ice from bonding to the surface of the pavement. This minimizes the occurrence of hard-packed snow. Anti-icing makes it easier to clear accumulated snow and results in a safer travelling surface.

Plowing

During a snow event, City plows push snow to the sides of the street (and designated sidewalks). Any areas that have iced over, or where snow has become hard-packed, will receive more applications of salt. Plowing typically begins when there is 3-5 cm of snow on the ground. It continues until all streets are plowed. This can last up to 24 hours after snowfall ends, depending on the severity of the winter event.

Widening

Once a snowfall event is over and all driving lanes are open, City staff begin to widen streets. Street widening is also completed in priority order.

Private Snow Clearing Operators

Private contractors clearing snow for businesses throughout the city are asked to stay within the boundaries of the area that they are clearing.

When private contractors place snow on public spaces such as sidewalks and city streets, this creates issues for everyone in the community. If you see a private operator placing snow in a public space such as a sidewalk or public road, please report the details to Access St. John’s so this can be investigated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for clearing bus shelters and stops?

Metrobus is responsible for clearing bus shelters throughout the City. The approximately 76 bus shelters are usually cleared once streets have been widened. If a bus shelter is not cleared, please call (709) 722-9400.

The City does not have enough resources to clear over 900 bus stops, however street widening and sidewalk snow clearing operations help in clearing a significant amount of snow from many bus stops.

A total of 193 kilometres of sidewalks have been prioritized for snow clearing and ice control, predominantly along "collector" and "arterial" streets where pedestrian and vehicular traffic is higher.

The sidewalk snow clearing program operates using a priority system, viewable on this map.

Most sidewalks included in the sidewalk snow clearing program will be cleared within 5 days from the end of a winter event. This timeline may be extended if there is additional snowfall or icing during this period. Crews will work until all streets and designated sidewalks are clear.

What should I do if a catch basin near my property is blocked by snow or ice?

Catch basins are typically opened as the street is cleared by City equipment. However, it is not always possible for City crews to clear all locations when there is rain or significant snow melt expected. We ask residents and business owners to do their part and clear snow and ice accumulation away from the catch basin near your property if it is safe to do so. This helps reduce flooding on your property and in your neighbourhood.

Why does the City not plow snow into the centre of cul-de-sacs?

The following are reasons why we avoid plowing snow into the centre of cul-de-sacs:

Children often play on stockpiled snowbanks. This is a serious safety hazard since drivers and/or equipment operators may not see them until it is too late.
Large stockpiles of snow in the middle of a cul-de-sac, in addition to parked cars in cul-de-sacs, create equipment accessibility issues especially for garbage collection and snow clearing equipment.
Plowing snow to the middle of a cul-de-sac would require plows to drive on the wrong side of the road which could potentially result in an accident.
Snow which is stockpiled on asphalt will typically experience some daytime melting due to rising asphalt temperatures during the day. The runoff then freezes after sunset resulting in the need for additional salt applications.

Why does snow from City plows end up in my driveway, and what can I do to reduce it?

Driveway shovelling is the responsibility of residents. During snow clearing operations, City plows often make several passes to push snow toward the side of the road. This helps open catch basins, improve visibility, and ensure emergency vehicles can safely access streets. As a result, some snow may be pushed into driveways. While we understand this can be frustrating, it is necessary to help keep roads safe and clear.

Tips to reduce the amount of snow pushed into your driveway:

Move snow from your driveway onto your property and not the road.
clear the area by the road on the left side of your driveway. This gives the plow a place to unload snow.

If excessive amounts of snow or large chunks of ice are pushed into your driveway, you can report it to Access St. John’s at 311 or 709-754-CITY (2489). Please note that complaints are reviewed after all streets and sidewalks have been cleared.

How will emergency vehicles access roads that are not cleared?

The City has established procedures in place to support emergency response during winter operations. If required, 911 dispatchers coordinate with City snow clearing crews directly to ensure emergency vehicles have a safe and accessible route. This is also why we follow a service priority model, to ensure emergency vehicle access is always maintained to the greatest number of residents.

Does the City remove snow for mailboxes?

No. Snow removal around community mailboxes is the responsibility of Canada Post. For concerns, please call 1-866-607-6301.

What happens if my property is damaged during snow clearing operations?

Protect your property from damage in the winter:

remove any items which could potentially interfere with snow clearing operations (examples: hockey nets, basketball nets, lawn ornaments)
mark any permanent structures or objects with a reflector that will be visible above the snow
never park on the sidewalk
when parked in a driveway, make sure your vehicle is not hanging over into the right-of-way

If your property or City garbage cart has been damaged by our snow clearing equipment, report it as soon as possible to Access St. John's by calling 311 or 709-754-CITY (2489)

Staff will review your report and follow up according to City processes.